Common Pond Weed Grows a YOUNGER Brain
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted June 28, 2023
The Mediterranean diet has gotten a LOT of attention in recent years. I get questions about it all the time.
The diet is packed full of good-for-you fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and fish. And research has ALREADY linked this style of eating to bunches of health benefits.
But scientists recently uncovered a NEW one that’s nothing short of mind-blowing.
According to researchers, the Mediterranean diet (with a bit of a twist) may make your brain age SLOWER.
The study published in the journal eLife followed 300 participants who ate a GREEN Mediterranean diet for 18 months.
The researchers wanted to see if the diet had any measurable effects on the dieter’s “brain age.” So they tracked their brain health using in-depth brain scans for the duration of the study.
They found that folks who lost just one percent of their body weight during the study slashed their brain age by about nine months.
A green Mediterranean diet is a modified version of the traditional diet, emphasizing polyphenols. Participants included 28 grams of walnuts, 3 to 4 cups of green tea, and a green shake made from a common pond plant called duckweed, a daily part of their diet.
If you haven’t heard of duckweed (Wolffia-globosa), join the party. Most folks haven’t. But it’s time we all learned more about this potent plant.
Considered an unwelcome weed by many pond owners, duckweed is high in iron, B12, protein, and an incredible 200 kinds of polyphenols. Duckweed isn’t widely available as a food product yet, but I’m betting that’s about to change very soon.
You can get brain-supporting duckweed as a powder or tincture. But for my money, the best option right now is frozen duckweed which would be terrific in healthy smoothies.
Currently, I’m aware of only one on the market. You can find it by searching for “Mankai duckweed.” Users describe it as having a relatively mild, earthy, grassy flavor that reminds them a bit of spinach.
If you can’t find duckweed, or you don’t like the taste, you can try other polyphenol-rich foods, including spinach, berries, artichokes, and dark cocoa.
The volunteers who lost weight didn’t JUST get brain benefits either. They ALSO shed harmful liver fat and significantly improved their enzyme levels.
But the MOST critical takeaway from this study is that losing even a small amount of weight can have a HUGE, positive impact on your health.
A green Mediterranean diet is one excellent method to shed those pounds. But it’s FAR from the only way to lose weight. Find the path that works best for you.
P.S. THIS delicious diet can slash your risk of hearing loss up to an incredible 30 percent. CLICK HERE for the details.
Source:
“The effect of weight loss following 18 months of lifestyle intervention on brain age assessed with resting-state functional connectivity eLife 12:e83604, doi. org/10.7554/eLife.83604
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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